American Atheists

American Atheists is a United States nonprofit organization focused on defending the civil rights of atheists, challenging governmental support for religion, and promoting separation of church and state. Its work combines constitutional litigation, public advocacy, educational outreach, media participation, publications, political activity, and community-building. The organization describes atheism not merely as a private lack of belief but as a basis for equal treatment under law and for ethical action in public life. The organization emerged from Madalyn Murray O'Hair's legal challenge to compulsory Bible reading and prayer in Maryland public schools. In 1959, Murray filed litigation on behalf of her son, William J. Murray, who objected to school Bible readings and prayer. Her case, Murray v. Curlett, was consolidated with Abington School District v. Schempp. In 1963, the United States Supreme Court held that state-sponsored Bible reading and prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The organization founded by O'Hair that year was initially known as the Society of Separationists and later became American Atheists. American Atheists has continued to use litigation to contest what it regards as unconstitutional religious favoritism or coercion. Its cases and campaigns have addressed prayer in public institutions, religious displays on government property, religious language in official settings, public funding, military and veterans' symbolism, and the treatment of atheist students and families. The organization has also sought equal access for atheists rather than simply removal of religious expression, as illustrated by its campaign for an atheist monument in Bradford County, Florida, after the county permitted a Ten Commandments monument on public property. Public communication is another central part of the organization's work. American Atheists provides speakers for educational institutions, civic groups, and news organizations; publishes books and American Atheist Magazine; operates or supports online educational material; and has used provocative billboards to challenge religious assumptions and encourage people who privately identify as atheists to become more visible. Its advertising has sometimes generated criticism from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities, while the organization has defended such campaigns as protected advocacy. The group has experienced substantial leadership changes and organizational controversy. O'Hair led the organization until her disappearance and murder in 1995, together with her son Jon and granddaughter Robin. Ellen Johnson subsequently became president, followed by Ed Buckner and then David Silverman. Silverman was removed in 2018 after an internal investigation concerning allegations of sexual misconduct and financial conflicts. Ed Buckner served as interim executive director before Nick Fish became president in September 2018. American Atheists remains an active national advocacy organization headquartered in New Jersey, with its work centered on constitutional rights, secular public policy, and public recognition of atheists.

American Atheists traces its institutional origins to Madalyn Murray O'Hair's challenge to religious exercises in Maryland public schools. In 1959, O'Hair brought a case on behalf of her son, William J. Murray, who objected to compulsory Bible readings and prayer. The litigation, Murray v. Curlett, was combined on appeal with Abington School District v. Schempp, a related challenge brought by the Schempp family. The consolidated case reached the United States Supreme Court in 1963. On June 17 of that year, the Court ruled that state-directed Bible reading and prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause. O'Hair founded the Society of Separationists in 1963, and the organization later adopted the name American Atheists. The new organization made constitutional separation of religion and government the center of its work. It argued that atheists should receive equal protection and equal access rather than be treated as outside the civic community. During O'Hair's leadership, American Atheists pursued a series of challenges involving religious practices and symbols in public life. Listed cases included challenges to religious broadcasting access, White House religious services, Bible reading by astronauts, prayer before municipal meetings, the phrase “In God We Trust” on currency, religious qualifications for public office, religious events on federal land, and nativity displays in government buildings. These efforts established the organization as one of the more confrontational secularist groups in the United States. The organization also developed public education and communications activities. It supplied speakers to colleges, universities, clubs, and news outlets, published books and American Atheist Magazine, and held national conventions. Its political work included the Godless Americans Political Action Committee, created in 2005 to support candidates favoring church-state separation. American Atheists also participated in campaigns concerning military service, public monuments, school discrimination, and the visibility of nonbelievers. In 2006 it supported efforts opposing the “no atheists in foxholes” assertion, and the Veterans Affairs Department subsequently accepted its emblem for use on government headstones and markers. A major crisis occurred in 1995, when Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Jon O'Hair, and Robin O'Hair disappeared from the organization's former headquarters in Austin, Texas. The case was later solved as a kidnapping, robbery, and murder committed by David Waters, a former employee. The event became a defining and traumatic episode in the organization's history. Ellen Johnson succeeded O'Hair as president and led the organization through the late 1990s and much of the 2000s. She appeared at the 2002 Godless Americans March on Washington and oversaw continued legal and public campaigns, including litigation over religious decorations in municipal facilities and advocacy for the Smalkowski family in Oklahoma. Leadership changed again in 2008. Frank Zindler served briefly as interim president, followed by Ed Buckner, who held the presidency until 2010. David Silverman then became president. During this period, American Atheists expanded its use of highly visible advertising. Billboards addressing Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Christmas, and religious belief were intended to challenge religious claims and reach people who privately identified as atheists. They also prompted public criticism, including accusations that some messages were disrespectful or insulting. The organization maintained that the campaigns were legitimate speech and part of its effort to normalize atheist identity. American Atheists continued its litigation strategy in the 2010s. It challenged the placement of the World Trade Center Cross at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, but a federal judge ruled for the defendants in 2013. In Bradford County, Florida, the organization challenged a Ten Commandments monument on public property. The dispute was resolved through mediation in a way that permitted American Atheists to place an atheist monument on the property, an arrangement described as a first for an atheist monument on public land in the United States. The monument was supported by a grant from the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. In 2014, the organization launched AtheistTV through Roku, offering live and on-demand programming. The project extended its advocacy into digital media and presented content covering science, politics, comedy, and secular issues. In 2018, Silverman was removed after an internal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and financial conflicts. Ed Buckner served as interim executive director, and Nick Fish became president in September 2018. American Atheists continues to operate as a national U.S. nonprofit focused on church-state separation, atheist civil rights, public education, legal advocacy, and broader acceptance of atheists in civic life.

• 2018

  Nick Fish becomes president

  [1]American Atheistsen.wikipedia.org

  After a leadership transition and an interim period under Ed Buckner, Nick Fish becomes president.

• 2014

  AtheistTV launches on Roku

  [1]American Atheistsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization introduces a live and on-demand Internet television channel on Roku.

• 2013

  Florida atheist monument settlement

  [1]American Atheistsen.wikipedia.org

  A settlement with Bradford County permits American Atheists to place an atheist monument on public property alongside an existing Ten Commandments monument.

• 2005

  Godless Americans Political Action Committee formed

  [1]American Atheistsen.wikipedia.org

  American Atheists creates a political action committee to support candidates favoring church-state separation.

• 1995

  O'Hair family disappears and is murdered

  [3]Madalyn Murray O'Hairen.wikipedia.org

  Madalyn, Jon, and Robin O'Hair disappear from the organization's former Austin headquarters and are later identified as victims of kidnapping and murder.

• 1963

  Organization founded

  [1]American Atheistsen.wikipedia.org

  O'Hair establishes the Society of Separationists, the organization that later becomes American Atheists.

• 1963

  Supreme Court decision on school prayer and Bible reading

  [2]Abington School District v. Schemppen.wikipedia.org

  The Supreme Court rules in Abington School District v. Schempp that state-sponsored Bible reading and prayer in public schools are unconstitutional.

• 1959

  Murray files challenge to compulsory school Bible reading

  [2]Abington School District v. Schemppen.wikipedia.org

  Madalyn Murray O'Hair files litigation on behalf of her son William J. Murray challenging compulsory Bible reading and prayer in a Maryland public school.

A rights-based atheist advocacy organization combining constitutional litigation, secular public-policy activism, public education, and visibility campaigns.

• Publication

  American Atheist Magazine

  The organization's periodical publication supports its educational and advocacy mission by presenting atheist perspectives, secular analysis, organizational activity, and arguments concerning civil liberties and church-state separation.

• Digital media · 2014

  AtheistTV

  A Roku-based Internet television service introduced in 2014. It combined a continuous live stream with on-demand programming covering science, politics, comedy, and issues related to freedom from religion.

• Civil-rights service · 1963

  Legal advocacy

  American Atheists files and supports lawsuits involving alleged violations of church-state separation, religious discrimination, public religious displays, school treatment of atheist students, and equal recognition for nonreligious citizens.

• 2018

  Removal of David Silverman

  David Silverman was terminated after an internal investigation concerning allegations of sexual assaults and financial conflicts.

  Source

• 1995

  Abduction and murder of the O'Hair family

  Founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair, her son Jon, and granddaughter Robin disappeared from the organization's former headquarters. They were subsequently found to have been abducted, robbed, and murdered by David Waters, a former employee.

  Source

Read more

• 2010Holiday and religious-belief billboard campaigns

  United States

  American Atheists used provocative billboards, including a satirical Christmas-season advertisement, to question religious claims and encourage atheists to identify publicly.

  Outcome. The campaigns generated extensive criticism and counter-messaging while increasing the organization's public visibility.

  Source
• 2010Paterson Allah billboard

  United States

  A New Jersey billboard used the name Allah and a message presenting religious belief as a choice and myth, forming part of the organization's broader anti-religious advertising.

  Outcome. Some local Muslims considered the message insulting, while the dispute also highlighted the organization's position that it had a right to display the advertisement.

  Source
• 2006No Atheists in Foxholes campaign

  United States

  The organization helped challenge the claim that military personnel necessarily rely on religious belief in combat or crisis.

  Outcome. The campaign contributed to discussion of atheist military service and recognition of the organization's emblem by Veterans Affairs.

  Source
• 2002Godless Americans March on Washington

  United States

  American Atheists participated in the national march, which sought greater public visibility and political recognition for atheists and other nonreligious Americans.

  Outcome. The event brought atheist advocacy into national public discussion.

  Source

• 2018

  Replace David Silverman after internal investigationOther

  Background

  An internal investigation examined allegations of sexual misconduct and financial conflicts involving the organization's president.

  Action taken

  Silverman was removed, Ed Buckner served as interim executive director, and Nick Fish later became president.

  Aftermath

  The organization entered a new leadership period under Fish.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch AtheistTVProduct launch

  Background

  The organization sought to extend atheist education and advocacy beyond litigation, print publications, and live events.

  Action taken

  It launched a live and on-demand Internet television channel through Roku.

  Aftermath

  The service broadened the organization's digital media presence.

  Source

• 2013

  Accept settlement permitting an atheist monumentOther

  Background

  American Atheists challenged a Ten Commandments monument on public property in Bradford County, Florida.

  Action taken

  The organization resolved the dispute through mediation on terms allowing it to place its own atheist monument on the property.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement was described as the first placement of such an atheist monument on public land in the United States.

  Source

• 2005

  Create a dedicated political action committeeStrategy

  Background

  The organization sought a more direct role in electoral politics and policy debates concerning the relationship between government and religion.

  Action taken

  It formed the Godless Americans Political Action Committee to endorse candidates supporting church-state separation.

  Aftermath

  The committee became part of the organization's political advocacy structure.

  Source

1. 1American Atheistsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Abington School District v. Schemppen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Madalyn Murray O'Hairen.wikipedia.org
4. 4American Atheists official websiteatheists.org